Homespun Community Dancing provides fun, engaging and educational library events that teach about life before electricity in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Old Time Community Barn Dance takes the audience/participants back to a time when families made their own entertainment with homemade music and dance. We teach about the origins of traditional folk instruments including the fiddle, modern and gourd banjo, mandolin, guitar, clarinet, penny whistle and recorder.
Everyone gets involved – from ages 4 to 104 -- in easy-to-learn American barn dance favorites and dances from around the world. All dances are taught, and danced to LIVE folk music.
More information and video at these links:
http://www.homespun.biz/intergenerational-family-dances/ and http://www.homespun.biz/occasions/educational-programs/community-dancing/

Your audience can try their hand at folk dancing, and kick up their heels to live fiddle music, just like people did in the 18th and 19th century before electricity!
Enjoy a tradition of community dancing and music handed down from generation to generation and that is still going on in many communities. We play music and get everyone involved – from ages 3 to 103 — especially those who have not danced before, in easy-to-learn American barn dance favorites: circles, squares, contras, as well as international folk (Irish, Dutch, African, Chinese, Korean, Latin American, Russian, Israeli, French, and more) dances.
While participation in the dancing is encouraged — and it’s hard to sit still — it’s fun to just listen to the music and watch too!
The “Dance the World Around” includes a sit-down period to talk about the dancing, music, instruments, and cultures. We play tunes, sing songs, and teach about the origins of traditional folk instruments including the fiddle, modern and gourd banjo, mandolin, flute, penny whistle, clarinet, guitar, recorder, ukulele, hu lu si (Chinese wind instrument), percussion, and more.
More information and video at this link:
http://www.homespun.biz/intergenerational-family-dances/ and http://www.homespun.biz/occasions/educational-programs/community-dancing/

Your library supplies the atmosphere—cornstalks, hay bales, cider, pies and books – for the event. Homespun supplies the dance caller and musicians on fiddle, guitar, gourd and modern banjo, and tin whistle. Homespun leads participants in square, contra and circle dances brought to America from Europe and Africa. Connect with centuries-old traditions and celebrate the bounty of the harvest as generations of Americans have done.
Traditional dancing helps build a sense of community. The audience has fun working together to learn the dances. Participants experience a bit of living history - they learn firsthand how people have socialized for many generations and hear anecdotes from American (and global) history that inspired the dances and music. Community dancing develops participants’ communication and listening skills, and improves physical coordination…dancing is great exercise!
The “Community Harvest Dance” includes a sit-down period to talk about the dancing, music, instruments, and cultures. We play tunes, sing songs, and teach about the origins of traditional folk instruments including the fiddle, modern and gourd banjo, mandolin, penny whistle, clarinet, guitar, recorder, and more.
More information and video at this link:
http://www.homespun.biz/intergenerational-family-dances/ and http://www.homespun.biz/occasions/educational-programs/community-dancing/

During the bi-centennial celebration the the building of the Erie Canal, we are presenting programs of the dances and music that were commonly done by the workers and residents of the towns along the route.
Different classes and nationalities of people worked together to better their lives. When they had a bit of spare time, they would sing, play music and dance.
In addition to all the immigrants from Ireland, most of the other workers came from Scotland, Wales, France and Africa. We will lead some simple dances from the canal building era of these cultures using the traditional instruments that were played back then.
The program includes a sit-down period to talk about the dancing, music, instruments, and cultures. We play tunes, sing songs, and teach about the origins of traditional folk instruments including the fiddle, gourd and modern banjo, mandolin, penny whistle, recorder, and more.
The audience will connect with centuries-old traditions and participate in the traditional dances as generations of Americans have done – by dancing! Squares, contras and circle dances were brought to American from Europe and Africa.
More information and video at this link:
http://www.homespun.biz/intergenerational-family-dances/ and http://www.homespun.biz/occasions/educational-programs/community-dancing/

As residents of the Northeast, we all know how the long winter months can make you feel cooped up and bummed out. Our Cabin Fever Dance is a popular monotony-breaker for your audience of all ages. Your library supplies the atmosphere— snowflakes, brownies, twinkle lights and books -- for the event. We supply the dance caller and musicians on fiddle, guitar, banjo and tin whistle and lead participants in square, contra and circle dances brought to America from Europe and Africa. Connect with centuries-old traditions and dance the cold winter away as generations of Americans have done.
Our dances are community-building activities that get everyone up and moving. Easy dances that everyone can learn in one session means fun for children and adults.
The “Cabin Fever Community Dance” includes a sit-down period to talk about the dancing, music, instruments, and cultures. We play tunes, sing songs, and teach about the origins of traditional folk instruments including the fiddle, modern and gourd banjo, mandolin, penny whistle, clarinet, guitar, recorder, and more.
More information and video at this link:
http://www.homespun.biz/intergenerational-family-dances/ and http://www.homespun.biz/occasions/educational-programs/community-dancing/

What did people do for fun in the Colonial era? They sang, made their own music, and danced! Are you looking for a way to bring the Colonial era to life? Participants will learn firsthand how people socialized and hear anecdotes from American history. Encourage them to come in costume from clothing they already have – or make their own.
Colonial New York and New England was a crossroads of trade, commerce and culture, influenced by Dutch, French, English, African and Native American among many other peoples and traditions. “Multicultural” is not a new concept.
The audience will connect with centuries-old traditions and participate in the traditional house party dances as generations of Americans have done – by dancing! Squares, contras and circle dances were brought to American from Europe and Africa.
The program includes a sit-down period to talk about the dancing, music, instruments, and cultures. We play tunes, sing songs, and teach about the origins of traditional folk instruments including the fiddle, gourd banjo, mandolin, penny whistle, recorder, and more.
More information and video at this link:
http://www.homespun.biz/intergenerational-family-dances/ and http://www.homespun.biz/occasions/educational-programs/community-dancing/

Homespun Community Dancing provides fun, engaging and educational library events that teach about life before electricity in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Homespun Family Dance takes the audience/participants back to a time when families made their own entertainment with homemade music and dance.
Everyone gets involved – from ages 2 to 102 -- in easy-to-learn American barn dance favorites and dances from around the world. All dances are taught, and danced to LIVE folk music that has been known to transform even the most adamant, grimacing youngsters declaring “I will never dance” into smiling dance-lovers asking: “When is the next dance?”
“Homespun Family Dance” includes a sit-down period to talk about the dancing, music, instruments, and cultures. We play tunes, sing songs, and teach about the origins of traditional folk instruments including the fiddle, modern and gourd banjo, mandolin, penny whistle, recorder, and more.
More information and video at this link:
http://www.homespun.biz/intergenerational-family-dances/

$351- $500

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* Inclusion in this database does not indicate endorsement of any performer
or program by the NYS Education Department, the Office of Cultural Education, the NYS Library or the participating
library systems, nor does it eliminate the need for reference checks and appropriate standard screening procedures.